Long Mane Care?

[4Martini]

I am letting my horse grow out his mane (well have been since last autumn) for the first time since we're not showing. I've noticed more split ends as it gets longer. Today I washed and conditioned it and then sprayed vetrolin anti tangle in it.

I'm just curious what the best way to encourage it to grow long and thick. In the summer should I keep it braided in little braids, or leave it loose? (I'm also thinking braids would be cooler as it's a pretty thick mane.)

Thanks!

[dreamswept]

Make sure there's nothing he can rub his mane out on. I've been trying to get my Haflinger's mane to grow out, and he kept sticking his neck through his pipe corral. And there went 3 inches of mane. *weep* I do hope that the wire mesh fencing around his paddock does the trick.

I'd be careful about braiding. I learned pretty quick if they rub their necks under something (like a pipe corral or a fence) and they've got a braid in, out went that entire tuft of hair.

[RedTahoe]

Best tip for growing long manes came from a friend of mine that rides reining horses: don't brush it often. He said that people make the mistake when trying to grow out manes and tails by brushing it daily, but actually....by not brushing it as often, it encourages growth.

I wouldn't braid it for the same reason the other poster said...get a braid caught, rip out a chunk of mane.

[Sakura]

I have Arabians... and pretty much don't mess with their manes unless they get tangled. I do have one mare though that tends to get dreadlocks if she goes a week without finger combing. I make sure to use a really good deep conditioner when I wash their manes and tails as well. Loved the Sunshield leave in de-tangler (actually liked the whole product line), it ran circles around Cowboy Magic, but the place I usually buy it doesn't carry it anymore.

[Ltc4h]

I agree w/ all of the above.
But to encourage growth and help w/ tangles/knots, try Shapely's MTG. Separate the mane and put directly on the skin where the hair folickle is attached. You only need a very small amount, you can massage in gently or leave alone, works just as good on tails.

[Sakura]

I agree w/ all of the above.
But to encourage growth and help w/ tangles/knots, try Shapely's MTG. Separate the mane and put directly on the skin where the hair folickle is attached. You only need a very small amount, you can massage in gently or leave alone, works just as good on tails.

I have a question about Shapely's MTG... I have been told not to use it on horses that go out during the day as it can cause irritation / sunburn since it is oil based... Have you had any issues with that?

[gloriginger]

I have a question about Shapely's MTG... I have been told not to use it on horses that go out during the day as it can cause irritation / sunburn since it is oil based... Have you had any issues with that?

yes, it blistered my mare. I hate the stuff.

[Ltc4h]

I've used it for years on all colors and only ever had an adverese reaction once.
On a white leg of a chestnut Arab mare, was using it to treat muck itch.
Leg got worse for 4 days then with 1 1/2 weeks completely clear w/ new hair growth. Assumed she was sensitive to it.
It is extremely high sulphur base, so high that my sister-who is sensitive to sulphur- can't comb out horses who have it on.
But other than that mare, no other horse has reacted, I use it after every bath and 2x monthly.

[AndalusianMom]

My horses all have long, "natural" manes, and I wish I could just leave them alone, but....they are ridden 6 days a week and that long hair gets tangled in the reins and pulled out.
So, I have to do something with it. For riding, it works to band it up high, about 5 or 6 bands. Or I French braid it. If I'm lazy, I put in a lot of little braids and leave them for a few days, then redo them.
One way or another, in turnout or in work, you're going to lose some hair.

[DiscoMom]

My trainer made something she calls "mane purses" for her lipizzan and grandkids' pony (both of which have manes to their knees). Once my friesian's mane gets a bit longer (she just turned one), I plan on ordered a set. Basically, there are five purses that you braid into the manes and then a bag you tuck the braids into and secure to the top of the mane. They are hard to describe, but similar to the tail bags that braid into the tales, only with the mane purses, you have a pouch that the braid goes in. Not only does it prevent dreadlocks in wind, hair breaking off, etc, these also keep the mane clean. And you simply redo them about once a week. Her lipizzan (who really rolls and rubs his neck into the ground) has an amazing mane (which he did not have prior to coming to her place) and it stays WHITE!!! :D

[MistyBlue]

The longer the hair, the more general loss you'll see. Goes for people too...I shed as much as my dog, LOL!
The extra weight and tangling capabilities helps with breakage and weakening the root of each hair. Also it also seems like more is falling out because the hairs are so obvious when there are really long ones everywhere.
One of the BEST by far products I know about for long hair on anything (human or horse) is Silk by Biosilk. It comes in a tall frosted looking plastic bottle and you can find it in salons or some regular stores. It isn't cheap...but...you seriously only need a teeny tiny bit each time. A bottle for my own hair lasts anywhere from a year to 14 months...and my hair is pretty long. And oddly enough, regular stores or pharmacies have it priced higher than most salons have it priced. You can find it in salons around here anywhere from $25 to $30 and in stores from $35-$45. :confused:
It's not a detangler...it's a tangle repellent I guess you'd call it. Comb the mane and tail out, wash, condition, rinse and get it tangle free. While it's still damp, use some of the Silk rubbed into both hands and work it through the mane or tail, then comb it through. And leave it. It will keep the mane and/or tail tangle free for a LONG time. Keeps it soft and silky too. It's like liquid silicone, but not greasy at all.
On my own hair I put in in after a shower and leave it and despite the fact that my hair is past the middle of my back, baby fine and LOVES to tangle like crazy if I use Silk I never get one single tangle. Not a one. I actually get less hay stuck in my hair too, LOL! I wash my hair every other day and even day two there aren't any tangles. I use it once every other month or so on my horses to keep them from getting grungy manes or tails and they stay almost 100% tangle free for 2 months with it. I only have to pick through the hair with my fingers about once a week to keep it tangle free.
Maybe give that a try?

[thatmoody]

We have both friesian and andalusian stallions with manes down past their knees, so I suppose I'm something of a mane professional :D. I wash them once a week with human hair shampoo (usually something from Sally's for color treated or very dry hair) then deep condition while I wash the rest of them. I then braid (about 8 braids for the whole neck) and put the braids in mane bags (http://www.toadstoolfarm.com/manebags/how.html). We use the long ones because the braids are also about knee length.

I have to be sure to undo them and wash them at least once a week to minimize hair loss. Oh, and they're stalled most of the time, but I haven't noticed them rubbing them out when they're out, although we did french braid the Andy's for a show one time and he pulled a chunk out, which devastated me!

Oh, and I will have to try some of the biosilk - I use that for my own hair!

[Thomas_1]

Never brush or comb it unless it's wet ... as you've just done. Put plenty of mane conditioner or else baby oil on it when the horse is turned out and then any mud will just slip off it easily and it helps to stop it tangling.

[thatmoody]

Ah yes, that was something I forgot - I never brush, and I take a wide toothed comb to it ONLY when it's wet and has conditioner still in it. That is, I condition, then carefully comb, then rinse, and without combing again I braid (I separate the hair with my fingers).

Thanks Thomas1, for reminding me of an important gap in my procedure :winkgrin:.

[MistyBlue]

Oh, and I will have to try some of the biosilk - I use that for my own hair!
Isn't it awesome stuff? It's the only product I use on my hair and I was astounded at how tangle free, soft and smooth it keeps even my flyaway tangled mass of hair.
Give it a try on your horses...those breeds have long *thick* manes and tails...that's a whole lot of hair care to perform, LOL! I've been lusting after a Lusitano for ages and if I ever find the right one for myself I'll either have to give in to massive mane and tail care OR roach. Thankfully I love the look of a roached mane and Baroques have great heads and neck for the roached mane look but tons of baroque mane lovers are probably falling off their chairs reading that. :winkgrin: If I keep a mane long...it's got Biosilk in it. Too hard to keep up otherwise. Give it a try on the horses, you'll love how it works on them too. :yes:

Never brush or comb it unless it's wet ... as you've just done.
Agreed...I don't take any combs of brushes to manes or tails unless the hair is already washed and has conditioner in it. Otherwise it breaks off left and right. I hand/finger pick through it prior to washing or as general grooming when it's dry. Takes a while if the tail got to the point of those twirly gunk filled dreadlocks...but if it gets that bad I soak the hell out of the tail first in hot water in a plastic bag or bucket. One trick I use for the end of winter nasty tail cleaning is I fill a muck bucket with hot water and place it upright on top of another upside down muck bucket. I put that behind the horse and stick a hay bag in front of the horse to keep it still. (and it's tied) I add some detangling shampoo to the hot water and lift the tail and drop it in in there as the horse munches. I let it soak about 5 minutes and then using my hands and arms in there I swish it around and scrub like I'm a frontier women washing laundry in a wash bucket, LOL! That way I don't have running water all over and tend to wear less dirty water afterwards. Seems easier for me. I use another small muck bucket full of warm water to replace the filthy water one and swish the tail in it to rinse, then wring out, pick through a bit and add conditioner. Comb through gently, re-rinse in warm water bucket and wring out, add Biosilk, make sure it's tangle free and I'm done. I use the 10 gallon muck buckets for washing in and place those on top of an upside down 20 gallon muck bucket. Just the right height for most horses. I carry hot water to the barn in clean plastic 5 gallons gas containers.

[thatmoody]

If you ever get a serious desire for a Lusi, come on down and take care of my boys for a month - you'll get over it real quick! They both love being fussed over, fortunately, but it takes a whole day to do both of them and my hands are shaking afterwards because the darned hair is so heavy! I've started drafting my 14 year old to help, and that reduces the time down to a 1/2 day including snacks and stall cleaning...They are seriously high maintenance!

[RedTahoe]

Something else that works that I used on a Walking Horse....."Ethnic" shampoos and conditioners (what the store calls them): ones tailored towards the African and African-American population. There are lots of luscious conditioners in them that really help a horse's mane and tail.

[5]

Put it in a loose french braid. Loose enough that the hair will come out of the braid not the horse if snagged.

[MistyBlue]

If you ever get a serious desire for a Lusi, come on down and take care of my boys for a month - you'll get over it real quick! They both love being fussed over, fortunately, but it takes a whole day to do both of them and my hands are shaking afterwards because the darned hair is so heavy! I've started drafting my 14 year old to help, and that reduces the time down to a 1/2 day including snacks and stall cleaning...They are seriously high maintenance!

Ya know...a barn of Lusitanos might actually entice me to FL...the state where my monster-in-law lives! :eek: :D :lol:
Yeah, the extra hair-care for those breeds isn't a big draw to me. Not that I'd mind going through it for one...but then there's still an enormous chance I'd just roach it and deal with forelock and tail only. :winkgrin:
Years ago my husband went to an Equine Affaire with me and wandered off for a few minutes in the breed barn. I finally found him and he was trying to negotiate a price on a Gypsy cob! :eek: Not that either of us ever expressed any interest whatsoever in the breed but he's an impulse buyer and it was a chestnut and white filly (he's a major sucker for red headed mares) and I was just in time to get him out of there. I told him the hair care alone would cause me to shoot my husband, LOL! (well, that and the fact that it was 18 months old, about 13hh and about 1200 lbs and looked like a teddy bear hamster with Cushings)
Now my husband often remarks that we'll find that perfect Lusitano or Andie (or Appy, my other fave breed but he's not as appreciative ofthem as I am) because he really loves long haired horses. (probably why he dislikes Apps, LOL) I told him if he's hell bent on a long haired horse...it will not be Friesian or Gypsy...has to be a non-grey Andie or Lusitano. (Lusitano first though) I don't know what it is with guys and Friesians...the breed is like the equine equivilent of a Harley Davidson I guess. They're pretty cool looking and hubby likes the LadyHawk Horses.

[4Martini]

Thanks everyone! Your pics are beyond my wildest dreams of mane growth. But with some time required out of the saddle I need a new hobby :lol: My 20yo OTTB seems to be enjoying the pampering. His mane has been my nemesis for years when I pulled it. Now people keep commenting on it as it's growing! It definitely has potential as it's about 3" thick coming out of his crest.

[thatmoody]

My own TB has a nice long mane and tail (which reminds me, he's due for a tail trim again) so it really works. His is a bit sparser than the stallions' manes, but it's still past his shoulder point and well below neck level:
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thatmoody/?action=view&current=elli003.jpg
(this is from back before he was retired)

Gee, I sound like I have a hair fetish, but the WB I'm currently showing has a "normal" braidable mane.

Edit: Oh, and here's a picture of the Andy's mane, braided:
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thatmoody/Horse/?action=view&current=kathy054.jpg
http://s91.photobucket.com/albums/k307/thatmoody/Horse/?action=view&current=kathy065.jpg

[pintopiaffe]

MistyBlue--you just have to get a Luso MARE, they are traditinally kept roached. Though they roach the forelock too. :no:

I am taking notes on this thread. My 2yo blue eyed blonde perlino Colonial Spanish filly has enough hair for five horses. And adores filth. And adores sticking her neck through the pipe panels. Which are both green and maroon. She's also dun, so the roots 'look' dirty to begin with. And now have lovely green and maroon stripes to boot... :sigh:

[goeslikestink]

use a human hair brush to then it helps to keep the mane and tail nice and do as toms surgested - sorted

[Nes]

MistyBlue--you just have to get a Luso MARE, they are traditinally kept roached. Though they roach the forelock too. :no:


I thought it was the same for andy mares as well?
You're also supposed to keep their tails short *sigh* It's supposed to make their confo stick out.

I'm impressed with the braids moody, I'm letting my IBWB mare's mane grow out & every day I think about trimming it because it's just so much work! :D Not to mention that gorgeous tail... that is always in knots :D

[MistyBlue]

Yup, both breeds keeps the mares roached. Especially broodmares but when I was shopping for one I noticed that very few breeders of either breed ride the mares anyways...all are broodmares. I had a few hilarious conversations with a couple places that breed/sell Lusitanos in South America...my preferrence is usually mares so was asking about what they had/could recommend. A couple breeders were completely shocked I was looking for a mare to ride, LOL! They were assuming it was a language issue when I kept repeating, "No, I want a mare to ride, not breed."
I'd hear, "Oh, but if you want to ride it, you want a horse, not a mare." (Seems down there it's called "horse" only if a stallion)
"No, I like lady horses to ride." "Oh, you want a lady's horse! We have a few getting gelded next week." :lol: :lol: :lol: (apparently a gelding is a Lady's Horse)
It was funny how the common terms and different practices work when trying a phone conversation, LOL!

[apachepony]

http://equusunlimited.com/index1.html

[thatmoody]

Bwahaha - lady's horse. What always surprises me about the breed is how well-conformed and quality the horses ARE, with their emphasis on keeping most of the males entire, rather than just the outstanding specimens. I believe that both of our boys have exceptional conformation (they both came from premiere bloodlines, and the Friesian is by Proud Meadows Jorrit 363) but from what I've seen, they are the norm rather than the exception.

Speaking of braids, it's time to redo ours, and it's been raining for DAYS! They are both mud-caked messes right now, and it's going to be a real PITA to wash and braid them.

I have a picture of the Andy with his hair down, now, by the way - the girl who owns this site is a daughter of a friend, so it's ok to post the pics here, even though they're copyrighted - I own them :).
He's in the middle pic - there are also some pics of him under saddle at the bottom:
http://sararosephotography.shutterfly.com/

[MistyBlue]

It was funny...one person was aghast that I'd want a mare and not breed it. The poor man was very polite in trying to explain why I was crazy. :lol:

The tough thing about shopping for a Lusitano or Andie is that it's quite easy to find fabulous animals in Brazil and other countries in South America (and probably in Portugal too ;) ) but finding a riding mare or any type of gelding isn't easy. They don't geld very many...but even their "cull" stallions are pretty nice quality and they don't have any issues giving them over to kids or casual riders for pets. But then of the few I've known here in the states...you'd have to look under them to know if they've been gelded or not...good brains on those horses. Except for facility issues they don't seem to require brain surgery. ;) I just don't have what I consider proper stallion fencing or barn set up...although if when we ever get around to shopping for one again I'll add young intact males to the list because those gonads are removeable. :winkgrin:
Now if only I could find them at better (for me) prices. It's not easy justifying certain price ranges for a pleasure/all around/pet/possible local show horse.